A Hellish Unwelcome for the Evil Soul (19)

Everything around the disbeliever points out to him that there is Only One Lord Worthy of Worship and that the existence of this world is limited; but still he continues to deny. The sky, the earth and all that is in-between; the darkness of the night as the stars spectacularly glow and shine across its expansive breadth; the brightness of the day and its intricate paths; the coldness of winter; the heat of summer; the cool breezes of spring; the swaying leaves of autumn; the parks full of greenery and blossoming flowers; the lakes full of tranquil colours and the fishes therein of various beautifying features are all giving him the same message. His very existence - a spectacular creation - just couldn’t have come about by chance. If only he cared to let these evident facts and truths seep into his heart and thereby change the course of his life.

Throughout his journey in this life man faces signs upon signs, but he fails to truly comprehend and take heed from them. He continues to ignore the milestones upon the path because of an obstinate head, held up too high to take notice of the glaringly obvious and clear signs around him. His pride falsely tells him that he knows better and so he clings to the ways of his forefathers - his family ways and traditions - and his own flawed personal observances and speculations of what he thinks and deems right. Indeed, he worships his preferences. He makes himself; his mind; his desires and inclinations his Lord, his deity of worship. He may even claim to worship the trinity or various idols with different names, colours and shapes. Idols crafted by the hands of men who, like himself, were confused and only impersonated this confusion with their handiworks. The question which Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), Peace be upon him, asked his prison inmates with prophetic sincerity and words full of heartfelt compassion and wisdom has still not been answered by such people:

{O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allâh, the One, the Irresistible?} (Surah Yusuf, 12:39)

Why don’t they ponder over the fact that these ‘gods’ can’t help them and that they couldn’t even create themselves, let alone anything else! Allah (Almighty) says in the Qur’aan:

{And those whom you call upon besides Him (Allâh) cannot help You nor can they help themselves. And if you call them to guidance, they hear not and you will see them looking at you, yet they see not.} (Al-A’raaf, 7: 197-198)

{Say: (O Muhammad to those polytheists, pagans, etc.) "Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allâh, they possess not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant), either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor is there for Him any supporter from among them.} (Saba’, 34:22)

Once a Hindu girl came into our prayer room in University and so I began to speak to her about Islaam and the rationality of believing in monotheism. After a while we opened up to each other and I asked her a question (to the effect of): “Please don’t get upset, I just want to ask you a question - I don’t mean to insult you, I just want an answer.” When she agreed I asked her: “If I said your mother was a cow - which I am not saying - but IF I did, how would you feel?” Her face began to change colour. I said: “Well, that’s how we feel when people refer to Allah, the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth, with such a term, the usage of which you YOURSELF deem offensive when it comes to your loved and dear ones. In the same way, we find it offensive when people refer to God as a cow, for we love God more than we love our parents, in fact above anyone and anything else, He is the one that created us and our parents.” Baffled, perplexed and stunned, she fell silent. This is the nature of truth; it always shines forth and has the power to leave its opponents utterly defeated.

{Have you not looked at Him (Nimrod) who disputed with Ibrâhim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allâh), because Allâh had given Him the kingdom? When Ibrâhim (Abraham) said (to him): "My Lord (Allâh) is He who gives life and causes death." He said, "I give life and cause death." Ibrâhim (Abraham) said, "Verily! Allâh causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it to rise from the west." So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allâh guides not the people, who are Dhaalimoon (wrong-doers, etc.).} (Surah al-Baqarah, 2: 258) In this regard, I strongly recommend the reversion story of Abu ad-Darda and how he came to Islaam.

In truth, Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the most abhorrent misdeed and sin that a human can acquire within the entire span of his life in this world. Its punishment is grave and the wrath incurred by it is severe.

Your Deadline

We must bear in mind that the time for turning back to Allah and asking His forgiveness extends up until two specific deadlines.

THE FIRST DEADLINE:

The first deadline occurs at the time of death. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah, the Lord of honor and glory, will accept the repentance of His servant till his death-rattle begins.” (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

THE SECOND DEADLINE:

When the sun rises from the West, which will occur near the end of time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“The Hour will not be established until the sun rises from where it sets. When that happens and people see it, all of them will believe. This is when, "It shall not profit a soul to believe that never believed before, or earned some good in its belief". (Quran, 6:158) Surely, the Hour will happen when two men have spread out a piece of cloth between them, which they will neither buy or fold up. Surely, the hour will happen when someone has just finished milking his camel, but he will never drink what he milked. Surely, the hour will happen when someone is making a water reservoir which he will then never drink from. Surely, the hour will happen when one of you has raised a morsel to his mouth which he will then never eat.” (Saheeh Bukhari)

If one is not able to fix what is between him and his Lord before these two deadlines then he would have failed for eternity, the result of which will linger with him forever. Therefore, procrastinating in repenting and mending ones ways is dangerous as the knowledge of the date of both of these deadlines is with Allah and they may come upon us anywhere - at any time. We ask Allah for His Mercy and Help.

THIS IS WHY a disbeliever’s declaration of faith at the time of his death will be rejected. Some people know throughout their lives that there is a truth that needs to be searched for and followed, yet they linger on in their misguidance, procrastinating until death comes. Pharaoh was one such person. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“When Allah (‘azza wa jall) drowned Pharaoh, he said, "(Now) I believe that there is no (true) god except Him in whom the children of Israel believe!" Jibril said, "Oh Muhammad, would you have seen me as I took black dirt from the sea and stuffed it into his mouth, fearing that the Mercy might reach him.” (Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi)

This is proof that the Angel of Death actually stopped Pharaoh from retracting, for his time was up and his book of deeds closed. In this same way, when death comes to a disbeliever, the deep regret and sorrow he’ll feel at that time will have no bounds. Before death it is easy to change our ways and act upon righteous feelings and impulses but after it a person can’t change and mend ways…it will be too late. Allah (Almighty) has vividly depicted this in the Qur’aan:

“Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says, "My Lord! Send me back. Perhaps I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised up.” (Al Mu’minoon 23: 99-100)

Just Imagine

Can you imagine the Angel of Death wrenching out the soul of the enemy of Allah? How painful and agonizing the experience will be? Even worse, there will be no turning back; no chance to make amendments; no longing to meet Allah (the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth). What an aimless and wasted life! A life in which a person didn’t gain the pleasure and happiness of Allah - the One who gave man everything yet man is so ungrateful in return. Such a person wronged no other than himself and Allah will hate to meet him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“And when death descends upon an enemy of Allah, and he witnesses things (implying his imminent punishment), he wishes that his soul would never depart, and Allah hates to meet him.” (Recorded by al-Bazzar; verified to be authentic.)

The angels that come to take the soul towards the heavens won’t be the “Angels of Mercy”, as was the case of the righteous and pure soul. Rather, they will be as the Prophet (peace be upon him) described: “Angels of Wrath” (Ibn Hibbaan. The Hadeeth is authentic.), whom he described as having black faces. The Angels of Wrath will sit around this corrupt person as far as the eyes can see. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

“…As for the disbelieving (lit. corrupt) man, when he leaves this world and enters the Hereafter, stern and harsh angels come down to him from heaven; their faces are black and they bring with them sack-cloth from hell. They sit around him, as far as the eye can see.” (This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Prophet (peace be upon him said),

“As for the disbeliever, angels of wrath will come to him with sackcloth. They say:

‘Come out to the wrath of Allah.'” (Ibn Hibbaan. The Hadeeth is authentic.)

When this difficult moment will come upon the disbeliever, the Angel of Death, as well as the other angels who will also be present, will say at the head of the evil person:

"Depart, Oh malicious soul that inhabited a malicious body; depart in a condemned state and receive evil tidings of boiling fluids and dirty wound discharges (to drink), and other types of suffering of similar nature - all paired together." (Recorded in Ibn Majah, verified to be authentic)

This continues to be said until it leaves the body.

They will also say:

“O evil soul, come out to the anger and wrath of Allah!” (This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim)

They keep on saying this until (the soul) comes out. (Ibn Maajah.) Thereafter the difficult time will come upon the disbeliever, a time unlike any time that he had witnessed in this wordly life. It will be the worst day of his existence. It will be the hardest and most painful thing he has ever experienced…his soul will begin to be extracted from his body. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The soul will be dragged out of his body with as much difficulty as a many-pronged skewer being dragged through wet wool.” (This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim)

The disbeliever’s soul will have a rotten, putrid and foul odour to it, like the stench of the foulest rotting meat to be found on the face of the earth. This in itself is a kind of punishment for it.

“He will take it, and immediately put it into the sack-cloth; it will stink like the foulest stench of dead flesh ever witnessed on earth.” (This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim)

“So (the soul) comes out like the foulest stench of dead meat, and they take it to the gates of earth.” (Ibn Hibbaan. The Hadeeth is authentic.)

“He will be cursed by every angel between heaven and earth, and by every angel in heaven.” (This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim)

Due to his stench the people of the heavens will say,

“It is an evil soul which has come from the earth.” (Saheeh Muslim)

A Difficult Journey

The angels will then begin their journey with him up into the heavens. His treatment will be unlike the believing slave of Allah - for the disbeliever the gates of heaven will not be opened nor will he be welcomed.

When a pious person dies the souls of the believers ask him about this wicked person (whether he has died or not). They say,

“He has gone to a place where he will have his home in a (bottomless) Pit. (cf. al-Qaari’ah [101]: 9)” (Ibn Hibaan and Ibn Maajah. It is authentic.)

In another version, when one of his believing acquaintances dies after him and enters into Jannah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“The souls of the believers come to him and inquire from him about their acquaintances of the dwellers of the earth. They are pleased when he says, ‘I left so and so in the dunya (the first life).’ And when he says, ‘So and so had died,’ they say (disappointedly), ‘But he was not brought to us.’” (Recorded by al-Bazzar; verified to be authentic)

This is because he wont be admitted into Paradise. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “It (the disbelievers soul) is then taken up to the (first) heaven, where permission is sought for it to be admitted.” (Recorded in Ibn Majah, verified to be authentic)

“(They will go on) until they reach the first heaven; they will ask for it to be opened to them, and it will not be opened”. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) then recited: {…for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle (which is impossible)…} (Al-Araaf [7]: 40)” (This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.)

“The gates of heaven will be locked and the people of every heaven will pray to Allah not to allow his soul to ascend through their domain. They will take the soul up, and whenever they take it past a group of angels they will say: ‘Who is this evil soul?’” (This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim)

“It is said, ‘Who is this?’ (Recorded in Ibn Majah, verified to be authentic.)

“He (an angel) replies, ‘So and so.’"

“They say: ‘It is so-and-so and son of so-and-so’ Using the worst names with which he was addressed in the world.” (Aboo Daawood.)

“It is then said, ‘Unwelcome, malicious soul that inhabited a malicious body; return in a condemned state, because the gates to the heavens will not open for you.’” (Recorded in Ibn Majah, verified to be authentic)

Right Back Down Into the Grave

“Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will say:

‘Register his book in Sijjeen, in the lowest Earth.’

Then Allah will say:

‘Take him back to the earth, for this is my promise: I created them from it, I will return them to it, and I will resurrect them from it again.’”

“So his soul will be thrown down from heaven until it reaches his body.” Then he (the Prophet, peace be upon him) recited:

{…If anyone assigns partners to Allah, he is as if he had fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the wind had swopped (like a bird on its prey) and thrown him into a far-distant place.} (Al-Hajj [22]: 31)” (This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.)

“Thus it is sent down from the heaven, and it enters the grave.” (Recorded in Ibn Majah, verified to be authentic)

Therefore, only bad tidings are given to it. The soul of the disbeliever is thrown down from the heaven back into his body, after his book has been registered in Sijjeen:

{Nay! Truly, the record (writing of the deeds) of the Fujjaar (disbelievers, sinners, evil-doers and wicked) is (preserved) In Sijjeen. And what will make you know what Sijjeen is? A Register Inscribed.} (Al-Mutaffifeen [83]: 7-9)

‘Sijjeen’ comes from the root word of sijn which means narrowness. After his deeds are recorded in Sijjeen his soul will be thrown back down into the earth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Then his soul will be returned to his body. He will hear the footsteps of his companions when they leave him.” {footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim{/footnote}